Here’s a look at the first half of the season for the Philadelphia Eagles and a preview of what to expect in the second half:

Grade (C-plus): A tough finish, but the Eagles exceeded expectations for much of the first half. A team many predicted would be sub-.500 got off to a 3-0 start behind the surprisingly steady hand of rookie quarterback Carson Wentz and a defense that yielded just 20 points over three weeks. The offense regressed over the ensuing weeks, however, and some sloppy play (penalties, untimely turnovers) prevented them from climbing to higher heights.

Midseason MVP: DE Brandon Graham. The former first-round pick out of Michigan was prematurely labeled a bust following a slow start to his career due in part to injuries. Now in his seventh season, Graham has emerged as one of the Eagles’ best players. He registered six QB hits and a sack against the Vikings’ Sam Bradford in Week 7 and led the defense in several statistical categories for much of the first half of the season, including sacks, hurries and tackles for loss. He could be in line for a Pro Bowl nod if he keeps it up.

Best moment: A Week 3 throttling of the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Wentz hype reached absurd levels following a 301-yard, two-touchdown performance in a 34-3 Eagles victory over Ben Roethlisberger and the Super Bowl-hopeful Steelers. The Eagles moved to 3-0, Wentz was being compared to every QB great under the sun, and Eagles fans were convinced that the future was now.

Worst moment: A late meltdown against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 8. Nursing a 10-point, fourth-quarter lead, a key fumble from rookie running back Wendell Smallwood and an ultra-conservative approach by coach Doug Pederson allowed Dak Prescott and the Cowboys to rally for an overtime victory. Instead of pulling into a tie atop the NFC East with Dallas, the Eagles fell two games back.

Player to watch: Wentz. The No. 2 overall pick was one of the most accurate throwers in the league over the first five games while proving downright lethal against the blitz. Then came the Lane Johnson suspension, which weakened the wall in front of him and appeared to affect his comfort level even when some of the leaks were plugged. In the big picture, this season is mainly about the development of Wentz. A return to form over the final eight weeks would be a most welcome sight for this organization.

Second-half outlook: The defense and special teams are playoff-caliber. The offense? Not as much based off the evidence gathered over the first eight games. With lack of productivity at the receiver position and a first-year QB operating behind a patchwork offensive line, this group has lacked both explosive plays and consistency. Despite those limitations, Pederson will need to open the offense up more and find creative ways to attack to alleviate some of the weight on Jim Schwartz and his defense.